“Joseph Smith, Brigham Young “
In that group you can add Islam’s Mad Mo and Ron Hubbard. They all started a religion with the idea of personal sexual gratification, greed, and other Earthly desires. False prophets? They were not prophets but con-men.
When the scriptures talk of false prophets I can’t seem to include these scam artists any more than I can a guy at a bar sweet talking a drunk woman to have sex with him.
As far as being dangerous, of course they are. They hurt or killed many people and still do so today.
When we look at Jews, Christians and other non-violent religions we see their focus on God and doing right to others. They don’t teach violence to others or about Earthly desires. They don’t teach pedophilia, rape, polygamy, murder, or violence to enforce obedience. They don’t have secrets or require cash to get ahead in their “church”. They don’t require members to recruit in order to gain favor with the “church”. They are inclusive, not exclusive. They accept all who accept their faith. Christians don’t even require a church or a leader. One can be a Christian simply through acceptance of Jesus as their savior. No church, money, sex, or givings of any kind required.
This was one of the top dozen or so Lds discussion threads of 2011:
Similarities between Mormonism and Scientology (402 replies)
“One can be a Christian simply through acceptance of Jesus as their savior. No church, money, sex, or givings of any kind required.”
Couldn’t one do that as a Catholic, a Baptist, a Mormon, or no church at all?
My wife was raised Catholic, and would still claim to be. But I once questioned her beliefs, and she is closer to protestant beliefs than to Catholic beliefs.
Most individuals don’t dwell on theological fine points.
I think people are raised in religions of their families, and believe in Christ. They themselves feel they are Christians.
Can another human being take that away from them, because they lack the wording for the Trinity? Down through the centuries have not various denominations held differing theological details?